The Summer He Came Home (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake 1)

“Oh God.”

“Maggie, let me help you. Tell me what it is you need, and it’s done. I can’t be there for you if you don’t let me in.”

“I never knew that he saw.” Her voice broke. “What kind of mother am I? I never knew.”

He reached for her—he couldn’t help himself. His hands slid along her shoulders, and he pulled her close, grateful that she let him. Maggie’s head tucked just under his chin, and he breathed in her unique scent, loving the way she melted into him. She belonged there.

She belonged to him.

A steady fall of rain slid down their skin, but the two of them were oblivious to the storm that raged. She didn’t move, and he made no effort to drag her into the house. The water washed over them, a cool balm against their heated flesh. He closed his eyes and held her, hoping, wishing, it would take away her pain.

After a while she stopped trembling, and her hands pushed at his chest. “Let me go, Cain.”

Reluctantly he released her, but there was something in her voice that made him wary. That ball of fear inside him churned heavy as she took a few steps and turned to him.

“Raine will be here soon with Michael. I need you to leave.”

“I’m not leaving.”

She brushed wet hair off her face, but there was no expression in her eyes. It was as though the tap had been closed and the water had run out. She was blank. Already gone.

“I’ll allow Michael to play in the charity football game with you, because I know how much it means to him, but after that we’re done. I can’t handle what happened here today, Cain. It’s too much.”

His anger spilled over. When had this woman gained such control over his emotions? “So, you’re willing to toss our relationship into the garbage because of a few pictures? I thought you had more backbone than that, Maggie. I guess I was wrong.”

She took two steps toward him, her small form humming with anger. “I guess you really don’t know me at all then.”

“It’s kind of hard to know someone when they’re constantly shutting you out.” He frowned. “Do you want to know what I think?”

“Not particularly.”

He walked toward her. “I think you’re using Michael and your ex as an excuse to run away from something pretty damn special.”

She glared at him but remained silent.

“You’ve got trust issues. I get that, Maggie, but there comes a moment when you have to let go of that crap, or else…” His tongue got all tied up. How could he make her see?

“Or else, what?”

“You’ll end up just like your old man, alone, bitter, and wasted.” She flinched at his words, and he knew they’d cut her deep. “Don’t you want to be happy, Maggie?”

She stared at him in silence for a good long while, and Cain thought that maybe he’d just crossed a line. But damn, she pulled his pin easier than anyone had ever done before, and he wasn’t about to apologize for being right.

“I want you to leave.”

Unbelievable.

“So that’s it.” He frowned darkly and took a step toward her.

“That’s it.”

“I don’t get a say.”

She shook her head. “No, you don’t.”

The back door flew open, and they both looked toward the small deck. Michael stood just inside, the grin on his face dying as he stared down at both of them. His curls were crazy, surrounding his head in a halo—a result of the humidity and rain.

He pushed away the stubborn wave that hung in his eyes and stepped onto the deck.